Electronic memory device



Sept. 1, 1953 J. T. POTTER ELECTRONIC MEMORY DEVICE Filed May 19, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. JOHN J! POTTER Sept. 1, 1953 J. T. POTTER ELECTRONIC MEMORY DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 19, 1949 UIYZIZAUYON Jinn-"0e INVHVTOR. I JOHN J. POTTER zzrazmzyq Patented Sept. 1, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

The present invention is concerned with cataloging or filing devices and, in particular, with what may be designated as a three dimensional electronic memory device.

The present application is a continuation-inpart of my application entitled Three Dimensional Selector and Memory Device, filed on September 1, 1948, and bearing Serial No. 47,292, now Patent No. 2,620,389, issued December 2, 1952.

The filing and cataloging of a wide range of information is a complex and growing problem. A simple file consists in the indexing of a relatively small amount of information under a few significant titles. A few dozen subjects may be handled in this way, and when any particular information is desired, it may be extracted manually. Files set up according to this simple system are cumbersome and space consuming.

Information may be somewhat condensed by I the use of card files. Further condensation may be accomplished by photographic film. These methods save space but the derivation of information from such files is still time consuming.

Punched card systems have been devised which are particularly useful where analysis or sorting of information into various classifications is important.

There is still a large and growing need for a catalog or file system which will hold a large number of facts and especially one which will yield desired facts quickly. The present invention has to do with a system and devices for storing a large number of facts, any one of which may be practically instantaneously selected and reproduced.

In its preferred form the present invention consists in a large number of steel wires or other magnetizable sound tracks carrying information recorded directly or in the form of coded pulses. These tracks are disposed in rows and columns in which, for instance, 10,000 tracks are contained in 100 rows, each row comprising 100 tracks. A two dimensional selecting system permits practically instantaneous selection of any one of the 10,000 tracks. Once selected, the desired information is derived by a third dimensional motion for reproducing or picking off the information from the track. The entire process of selecting any wire, reproducing the information and restoring the device to its initial condition may be accomplished very expeditiously.

One object of the present invention is to provide a method of and means for storing and rapidly selecting and reproducing a. large amount of information.

Another object is to provide a method of and means for storing a great number of quickly derivable facts in a small space.

Still another object is to provide a method of and means for storing a, large number of facts which may be practically instantaneously selected by means of a simple code as by means of two numbers from 0 to 99 and a selecting mechanism.

An additional object is to store information in a two dimensional system or device.

A further object is to store a large number of facts in a two dimensional system and to utilize a third dimension to derive or reproduce any of the desired facts.

These and other objects will be apparent from the detailed description of certain illustrative embodiments of the invention given in connection with the various figures of the drawing.

In the drawing forming part of this specification:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a practical and advantageous, illustrative structure embodying features of the invention, parts being broken away intermediate their ends in many instances for compactness of illustration;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective View on a larger scale than Fig. 1 showing a portion of the mechanism of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail view showing a portion of the mechanism of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 shows a complete three dimensional memory system in block diagram;

Fig. 5 is a diagram of a typical selector and motor control; and I Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing another form of mechanism embodying features of the present invention.

In the illustrative apparatus of Figs. 1 to 5 a file case or magazine is provided comprising upright, parallel plates I and 2. The plates I and Z are formed with vertically extending grooves for holding a large number of record frames 4. The frames or records 4 are free to slide up and down in the grooves 3. Each frame 4 is of open rectangular construction and is strung with a large number of parallel, vertically extending, magnetizable wires 5 which constitute sound tracks. In a typical case the plates l and 2 would be provided with grooves for supporting one hundred record frames 4, and each record frame 4 would include one hundred of the vertical wires 5.

Each frame 4 is provided at opposite sides of its upper end with notches 6. All of the notches at one side of the plates stand in horizontal alignment with one another when the plates are in their normal positions.

- A bail member I, which serves as a record operator, is carried by a rack I0, and is adapted to be adjusted along with a magnetic pick-up 8 into position for cooperation with a particular frame. During such adjustment the pick-up 8 travels above all the frames, while inturned fingers of the bail I travel along the notches of the frames t until they are brought to rest in the notches of a selected frame. The pickup de vice 8 is then adjusted transversely of the frame to bring it substantially into vertical alignment with a selected wire of the frame, after which the bail is lifted by a rack iii to carry the selected wire upward past the pick-up head 8. When the bail i has reached the upper limit of its movement, it is automatically returned to its low position, with the inturned fingers in line with the notches of all the frames. As the frame raised, the information magnetically recorded upon the selected wire is transferred by the pickup 8 through conductors ti and 82 to any suitable utilization means, such as a loudspeaker, or mechanism adapted to be operated by code impulses.

The rack iii with the bail 7 is mounted for Vertical sliding movement in a main carriage ii. The rack is driven through a pinion i5 from a reversible motor i2, mounted on the carriage ii, the motor being supplied with current from conductors it and i i. The main carriage H is mounted to slide horizontally in a fore and aft direction upon supporting members Ni, ii and s, which form parts of the stationary main frarn e work of the machine. Operation of the main carriage ii along the guides i6, ii and i8 earries the bail i into position to select a desired frame.

The main carriage, as it is so adjusted, carries with it a sub-carriage is upon which the pick-up head 8 is mounted. The subcarriage travels 1 unison with the main carriage, and hence the pick-up head is moved into position to cooperate :3

with a selected frame simultaneously with the movement of the bail into position to raise the selected frame. The frame member 9 is shown in a partly raised position in Fig. 1.

As has been indicated above, the mechanism shown in Fig. 1 permits selection of any one of the frames and the selection of any wire 5 on the selected frame. In order to select a predetermined frame, a rack bar 2b which extends in a fore and aft direction and constitutes a unitary part of the main carriage i l is moved to a selected position by means of a motor 2 I, and is stopped at the selected position by suitable motor controlling and braking mechanism controlled through one of a multiplicity of settable pins 22.

One side of the bar 2!) is provided with rack teeth 23, and the motor drives the bar by means of a pinion 2 5 coupled to the motor 2| through a shaft a gear box and a shaft 2?. Zhe motor H is energized over a line conductor 28 and over a conductor 29. The conductor 29 is connected through a brake box 30, a conductor 3|, a switch member 32, and a contact 33 With a line conductor 3s. A brake mechanism is provided in brake boX 39 which applies braking force to the bar 2S through the shaft 35 and a pinion 35 whenever the motor power circuit is opened. When the set pin 22 engages the switch member 32, it opens the switch 32 33, deenergizing the motor 2| and applying the brake (to be described in detail) to bring the main carriage quickly to rest.

The set pin 22 is one of a series of equally spaced pins carried by the arm 20. Each of these pins corresponds to a position of one of the frames t. Any one of the pins may be pushed down to the position shown for the pin marked by an associated solenoid 3'6 carried on the main frame. Each solenoid 3? is connected through a push wire 38 to the associated pin 22,

i and is operative when the solenoid is energized to thrust the pin downward into set position and hold it there. The armature of each solenoid is connected to a return spring 39 by which it is pulled upward to restore the pin 22 to normal position when the energizing current is cut off.

Such movement of the main carriage, as has already been pointed out, carries the sub-carriage |9 with it. The sub-carriage I9 is mounted in the main carriage H for transverse sliding movement. Such transverse movement of the sub-carriage may follow or precede or be simultaneous with the movement of the main carriage. The purpose of moving the sub-carriage is to locate the pick-up head 8 just above a selected wire 5. In other words, the main carriage selects the row or frame and the sub-carriage selects the column.

The sub-carriage i9 includes a rack bar 40, which is provided with rack teeth 4|. A motor 42. is connected through a shaft 43, a gear box 4 5, a shaft 45, and a pinion 4-3 to drive the rack bar 40. Power for the motor is supplied directly from a first line conductor 4! and from a line conductor 48 through a conductor 49, a contact 50, a movable switch member 5|, a conductor 52, a brake box 53, and a conductor 54. The brake box 53 contains a brake which operates when power to the motor 42 in interrupted, as by the opening of switch 5Ei-5|. The brake applies braking force to the arm 4| through a shaft 55 and a pinion 56.

The arm 44] is provided with a series of settable pins 57 which are similar in all respects to the pins 22 of the arm 20. Each of the pins 57 corresponds in position to one of the frame Wires, so that when a frame has been selected, it is possible to select any one of the wire on the frame. Each pin is provided with an actuating solenoid 58 which is connected to the pin through a push wire 59. A restoring spring 6|) is provided for each solenoid armature to return the armature and the connected pin 5'! to normal position when the solenoid is .deenergized.

When a solenoid 58 is energized, its corresponding pin 57 is pushed down for cooperating with the switch member 5| When the switch member 5| is moved to the open position by the set pin 57, the motor 42 is deenergized and the brake contained in the brake box 53 is applied to bring the arm 40 to a quick stop.

The pick-up 8 is carried by a support tl, which is connected through a hinge 62 to the sub-carriage l9. During the selecting operations of the main carriage and the sub-carriage the pick-up is held back by a solenoid 63. The winding 54 of the solenoid is carried by a rigid extension arm 65 of the sub-carriage 9 and is supplied with current over conductors 66 and 67. The armature 68 of the solenoid 63 extends rearwardly from the pick-up support 6| into the interior of the coil 64. A spring 69 connected to the support iii and to a pin l8 carried by the sub-carriage l8 tends to swing the pick-up upward and forward into position to embrace one of the wires 5.

As the selected frame starts upward, the pickup is held back to clear the bail 7 and the upper margin of the frame. As soon as the upper margin of the frame has passed above the pickup head, however, a switch in circuit with the coil 63 is automatically opened, and the pick-up is swung by the spring into position to embrace the selected Wire.

over conductors 06a, 90b and 960.

The motor I2 is not set into operation to raise the bail I until the operations of the carriage and the sub-carriage to select the frame and the wire have been completed. When the frame has been drawn upward to a fully extended position and has been returned to its normal position, the carriage and sub-carriage may be restored to normal in preparation for a new selection and a new cycle of operations.

In Fig. 3 the structure of the mechanism enclosed in the brake box is illustrated. The shaft 35, which carries the pinion 36, has fast upon it a brake drum II. A brake shoe I2 is pulled toward the brake drum by a spring I3 for applying braking force to the drum and through the shaft and pinion 36 to the arm 20. Whenever the motor 2I is energized current is passed through the winding 14 of a solenoid I5, the winding being interposed between the conductors 3| and 29 of the motor operating circuit. The solenoid armature I6 is connected to the brake shoe I2 and acts to hold the shoe I2 out of contact with the brake drum II whenever the winding I4 is energized. When the motor current is interrupted by the action of a set pin 22 upon switch member 32, the solenoid I5 is deener'gized and the brake is made eifective by the spring to bring the brake drum II quickly to rest. Since there is .no lost motion between the brake drum and the bar 20, the bar 20 is also brought quickly to rest.

Fig. 4 shows in block diagram a typical system utilizing the three dimensional memory of the present invention. The X and Y axis selector 29, to be described in detail below, is connected to the three dimensional memory 80 by means of leads 'III8. The three dimensional memory 80 is essentially the device shown in Fig. l or that shown in Fig. 7. The output of memory 80, which is the output of pick-up 8 of Fig. 1, is connected to any suitable utilization means 83 by means of leads 8I-82. Utilization means 83 may be any suitable device for making use of the information derived from the recording contained in the memory 80.

Fig. 5 shows a portion of the circuit of a typical selector such as 19 of Fig. 4. Solenoids 31a, 81b and 310 represent a portion of the X axis solenoids along arm 20 of Fig. 1. Return springs 38a, 39b and 380 are provided for the armatures of these solenoids respectively to restore their corresponding pins after selection has been made. A key 84a is connected to solenoid 310 over a lead 85a and serves to close a circuit through a contact 86a which includes a conductor 81, a suitable source of electrical energy such as a battery 88, and a conductor 89. Similar keys 84b and 84c controlling contacts 86b and 86a energize solenoids 31b and 310 respectively, the conductors 81 and 89 and the battery 88 being common to the several energizing circuits.

While only three solenoids and three keys have been shown, a complete device will actually include a great number of solenoids and keys, one for each of the desired positions in the X direction. Pushing one of the keys actuates the corresponding solenoid and its associated stop pin. The selection in the X direction is completed by operating the X direction motor (motor H of Fig. 1) by means of a key 90 which closes contact SI and thereby completes a motor energizing circuit between conductors 92 and 93.

Keys 84a, 94b and 940 control solenoids 58a, 58b and 580 through contacts 95a, 95b and 950 Each key is adapted to connect the associated solenoid in circuit with the conductors 8! and 88 and the battery 88. The solenoids are provided with return springs 60a, 60b and 600 respectively.. The keys 94a, 94b and 94c control the Y direction selection; that is to say, the selection of the pin on the arm 40 which is to be set in an effective position. When a given position has been selected by operating one of the Y axis keys, the Y direction motor 42 is energized by pressing key 91 to close contact 98 and thereby establish the operating circuit of the motor 42 through con ductors 98 and I 00.

As illustrated each X axis selecting key would be held down until the motor 2I has been operated to carry the main carriage to the selected position by the closing of the contact 9|, after which the X axis selecting key and the key would be released. Similarly, the Y axis selecting key is held down until the motor 42 has been operated by closing of the contact 98 to carry the sub-carriage I9 to the selected position, after which the Y axis selecting key and the key 81 can be released.

When the coordinate selectors for the X and Y directions have been operated and the carriage and sub-carriage have been operated in accordance with the selections effected, the pick-up '8 of Fig. 1 is substantially in line with a predetermined wire on a predetermined frame; At this point key MI is operated to close contact I02 for completing the operating circuit of motor I2 through conductors I03 and I04.

When the motor I2 is thus energized it acts to raise the bail I and so to move upward at regulated speed the arm which is engaged by the inturned fingers of the bail. This causes the wire or sound track 5 which has been selected to be be moved lengthwise past the pick-up, so that the magnetic recording is caused to generate electrical impulses in the pick-up representing the information recorded in the sound track.

When the desired information has been conveyed by the pick-up 8 to the utilization means, the bail I is returned to its lower position to restore the selected frame to normal position. This restoration may be effected by causing the motor I2 automatically to reverse at the upward limit of movement of the bail I and automatically to come to rest at the conclusion of the downward movement of the bail 'I.

The main carriage I I and the sub-carriage I 8 may be returned to normal position in any suitable manner, either by manual operation, or by providing reversing connections and reversing switches for the motors II and 42 together with limit stops for interrupting the motors and arresting the carriages when the restoration to normal has been effected.

In Fig. 6 disclosure is made of another form of mechanism embodying the invention. In this form of the invention each record consists of a thin steel sheet I05 having a large number of parallel sound tracks along which recordings are made. The sound tracks on the sheets extend along parallel, vertical lines. The sheets, which are desirably flat, are mounted radially in a rotary cylindrical magazine I06. The magazine comprises a central supporting shaft I0! which is rotatably mounted in upper and lower Stationary brackets I08 and I09.

The shaft I0! has affixed to its upper end a disc I I0 which is connected to an outer ring III through the record sheets I05. The shaft also has fast upon it a spider IIZ which is connected y to a lower inner ring H3. The. inner ring H3 is connected through the lower ends of the records I05 to a lower outer ring I I4.

A pick-up II5 stands normally in a position to clear the upper ends of the record plates I55 but is small enough to be operated vertically downward between two of the records and in proximity to one of them when a desired record, and, a desired sound track on the record, have been selected. Selection of the record is made by rotation of the magazine I06. Selection of the sound track on the record is made by radial adjustment of the pick-up II5. Reproduction of the selected record is effected by operation of the pick-up downward along the selected sound track.

The pick-up I I5 is carried by a rack I I6 which is guided for vertical movement in a channeled extension II1 of a motor carriage II8. The

motor carriage H8 is slidably mounted upon a radially extending rack II9 which is carried in fixed position by the bracket I623. The rack H9 at its outer end carries a wheel II9a which rests upon a flange or track I of the upper outer ring I II of the magazine I56.

A reversible motor I2 I, mounted upon the carriage IIB, drives the rack II6 through a pinion I22. Power is supplied to the motor I2I over conductors I23 and I24, through a reversing switch I25, the reversing switch being connected 1 to the motor armature and field over conductors I26, I21, I28 and I29. Reversing switch I serves to control the motion upward or downward of the pick-up I5I].

The motor carriage I I8 also includes a bracket I30 which carries mechanism for driving the carriage toward and from the shaft I01. A stationmy sound track indicating dial I3I is provided for cooperating with a manually settable pointer I32. The pointer I32 is mounted upon the shaft I33 of a Selsyn motor I34 which constitutes the transmitter of a pair of such motors, the receiving motor being designated I35. Remote control systems employing Selsyn motors are well understood, so that no detailed description is considered necessary. One line conductor I36 is connected to the motors I34 and I through conductors I31 and I38, while the other line conductor I31 is connected to the respective motors I34 and I35 through conductors I39 and I40. The motors I34 and I35 are connected to one another through three wires I4I, I42 and I43.

' It is characteristic of the Selsyn combination that the output shaft I44 of the receiver motor I35 is caused at all times to correspond in position with the input shaft I33 of the sender motor I34. The motion of the shaft I44 is transmitted through a pair of beveled gears I45 and I46 to a sleeve I41. The sleeve I41, through a follow-up torque amplifier I48, causes the amplifier output shaft I49 to correspond at all times to the posi- 'tl0l1 of the shaft I44 and hence to the position I50 which, through a beveled pinion I5I and a shaft I52, drives a pinion I53 which is in mesh with teeth I54 of the rack II9. Operation of the pointer I 32 in either direction to a desired setting produces simultaneous operation of the carriage H8 in a corresponding direction and to a corresponding position. With this control mechanism no resetting of the carriage is required because it can be directly operated from any position in which it is left standing to the new selected position. Because the output is linear, not rotary, however, the selector cannot be operated directly from 99 to 00 in a forward direction.

The selection of a record I05 by rotation of the magazine I06 is controlled by mechanism precisely similar to that described for controlling the carriage I I8. A stationary record indicating dial I54 is provided for cooperating with a manually operated pointer I55. The pointer is fast on the input shaft I56 of a Selsyn motor I51 which constitutes the sender. The sender motor I51 is connected to the receiving motor I58 through wires I59, I60 and I6I. Line conductor I36 is connected to the motors I51 and I58 through conductors I62 and IE3 respectively. Line conductor I31is connected to the motors I51 and I58 through conductors I 64 and I65, respectively. The output shaft I66 of receiver motor I58 is connected through pinions I61 and IE8 to drive the sleeve I 69 which is revolubly mounted on the shaft I51. The sleeve I69 is connected through a torque amplifying follow-up mechanism I10, to cause the shaft I01 to'be driven in unison with itself. Since the pointer I could have a range of movement of 360 and the magazine I05 desirably has a range of movement of 360, the ratio of gears I61 and I is in this instance desirably a one-to-one ratio.

As in the case of the carriage II8 the magazine can be operated from any position in which it is left to a new selected position. Because the magazine is a rotary member it does not have to operate between limits and hence can have unlimited rotation in either direction. Thus the pointer I55 can always be moved from the last setting to the next desired setting through the shortest possible course, even though such movement carries the pointer through the zero posi tion.

A spring detent I1I is provided on the outer end of the rack I I9 for cooperating with detaining notches I12 of the ring I I, to precisely determine the arrested position of the magazine I06 during the travel of the pick-up along the selected record track. The output of the pick-up H5 is carried to any suitable utilization means such as a loudspeaker over conductors I13 and I have described what I believe to be the best embodiments of my invention. I do not wish, however, to be confined to the embodiments shown, but when I desire to cover by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An information storing, selecting and reproducing system comprising, in combination, a large number of retangular records each having a plurality of parallel inagnetizable sound tracks upon it, a record magazine supporting the records in closely packed formation and in similar attitude so that the sound tracks are disposed in rows and columns, a magnetic pick-up for cooperating with any one of the sound tracks selected, a pair of coordinate selectors operable re spectively to select the row and the column of a particular sound track, pins settable by the respective selectors, power mechanism for relatively shifting the pick-up and the magazine to select record track row under the control of the stop pin set by the first selector, power mechanism for relatively shifting the pick-up and the magazine to select the record track column under the control of the stop pin set by the second selector, and mechanism for relatively shifting the pick-up and the selected sound track lengthwise of the latter to utilize the information recorded in the selected sound track.

2. An information storing, selecting and reproducing system comprising, in combination, a cylindrical record magazine, a large number of parallel magnetizable record sound tracks disposed in circular columns and radiating rows in said magazine, a magnetic pick-up cooperative with any one of the sound tracks selected, a manually operable row selector, mechanism responsive thereto comprising a remote control transmission and torque amplifying follow-up mechanism for relatively shifting the magazine and the pick-up to a predetermined relation according to the row selected, a manually operable column selector, mechanism responsive thereto comprising a remote control transmission and torque amplifying follow-up mechanism for rela- 10 tively shifting the, magazine and the pick-up to a predetermined relation according to the column selected, and mechanism for relatively shifting the pick-up and the selected sound track, lengthwise of the sound track to utilize the information recorded in the selected sound track.

JOHN T. POTTER.

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